Kansas City Chiefs: 9 first-round targets in the 2021 NFL Draft

Edge defenders

With the departure of Tanoh Kpassagnon and Alex Okafor this offseason, the Chiefs will be in the defensive end market in the 2021 NFL Draft. They need at least one more starting-quality edge rusher to play opposite of Frank Clark if they hope to keep opposing quarterbacks pressured for the next few seasons. However, this year’s draft class is light on defensive line talent, which means there is a very good chance the front office uses their first-rounder to snag one. Below are three late-first/early-second round draft prospects that should be available for the Chiefs, if they choose to use the No. 31 overall pick to fill the position.

Azeez Ojulari has a ton of upside as he enters the 2021 NFL Draft and is projected to be a late-Day One prospect. This might prove to be invaluable to Ojulari, as he’ll have a chance to get with a 2020 playoff team that can develop him into a quality starter in the NFL. At 6-foot-3, 240-pounds, Ojulari had a fantastic 2020 season for the Bulldogs: Bringing in 13 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks last season (per Sports-Reference), Ojulari showed NFL scouts he has the pass-rushing skills to keep opposing quarterbacks nervous when he is on the field.

Despite the SEC fielding woefully underwhelming defenses in 2020, Ojulari stood out as an elite prospect in a conference traditionally known for its topflight pass-rushers. He ranked number one last season in both sacks and forced fumbles in the SEC, capping off the year with a three-sack game in the Peach Bowl. Off the snap, Ojulari is able to disrupt opposing tackles with a combination of good hand placement and fast churning feet. Whether he is setting the edge, pass-rushing or dropping into coverage, Ojulari already has all the tools necessary to succeed in the NFL.

Ojulari would do well in Kansas City, as Clark should still be the star pass-rusher on the defensive line for the next three seasons. Clark and Ojulari pass-rushing on opposites sides of the line would present a “pick your poison” scenario for offensive coordinators. Adding Ojulari would help bolster a unit that ranked near the bottom of the NFL in total sacks last season and give their defensive line a much-needed talent infusion. Clark and Ojulari would be an impressive duo in the AFC West and would help prop open the team’s Super Bowl window for the foreseeable future.

He may have opted out in 2020 due to concerns over COVID-19, but Gregory Rousseau showed enough during the 2019 season to impress NFL front offices. With an ACC-best 20 tackles for a loss and 16 sacks during his redshirt freshman season, Rousseau exploded onto the scene with such brazen stats. But it was his four-sack game against Florida State that solidified him as a bona fide NFL pass-rusher in the making.

Measuring in at 6-foot-6.5, 266-pounds during his Pro Day, Rousseau’s size and stats are enough to impress most NFL general managers. On film, Rousseau showed a ton of upside in 2019 as a versatile pass-rusher who can win against tackles and guards alike at the line of scrimmage. The biggest knock against Rousseau is his lack of experience: He’s played a grand total of just 14-games in three seasons at Miami and was actually a wide receiver before moving to the defensive line. Competing against ACC Coastal opponents doesn’t exactly do him any favors either, as Miami didn’t face a single nationally ranked team in 2019.

But Rousseau showed during his Pro Day that he didn’t exactly sit on the couch and eat bonbons when he opted out last season. He put on weight, built up his strength up and looked imposing during Miami’s Pro Day. Rousseau showed some flaws in his mechanics during the Miami Pro Day, but none of his current weaknesses are things that can’t be ironed out with a talented defensive line coach. The Chiefs have plenty of experienced pass-rusher depth on the roster anyway, which would give Rousseau some wiggle room to develop in 2021.

Rousseau has all the raw physical attributes to succeed in the NFL if given the time to develop.  If the Chiefs think Rousseau could be a meaningful contributor in 2021, do not be surprised if the Chiefs make a move to secure his services in the first round.

Of all the defensive end’s in the 2021 NFL Draft, it might be Wake Forest’s Carlos Basham Jr.’s film that proves the most fun to watch. At 285-pounds, he’s around 30-pounds heavier than most of the other defensive ends this year. Despite this, he’s one of the most technically skilled pass-rushers in this year’s draft class. He’s explosive out of a 3-point stance, outsmarting opposing tackles with a variety of spin moves and maneuvers.

Basham has plenty of experience, having lined up in 39-games for the Demon Deacons since 2017. With 22.5 tackles for a loss and 15 sacks since 2019, Basham has impressed draft evaluators with his consistent performances week in and week out. Whether he is bull-rushing or cutting the inside lane against an offensive tackle, Basham has a wide variety of strategies to put pressure against opposing quarterbacks.

On third downs, Wake Forest would sometimes kick Basham inside, disrupting interior offensive linemen on passing plays. There’s a great video of Basham absolutely manhandling one of the highest-ranked guards at this year’s Senior Bowl. Basham is the type of pass-rusher that can find pressure inside and outside the box, a valuable trait in the NFL if used properly.

In Kansas City, Basham would assist a unit that looked sluggish at times last season. Basham still has some things he’ll need to work on in the NFL. It’s also worth wondering if he wouldn’t be a bit redundant next to Clark, who shares a lot of the same athletic skills. But Basham hasn’t shown anything on film to suggest he couldn’t play 60 percent or more of the team’s defensive end snaps in Year One of his NFL career.